Vaonis Vespera vs Vespera II: 30 Second Summary
- The Vaonis Vespera II was released in January 2024 and is an update to the original Vaonis Vespera which was released in 2022.
- It is the same compact size and weight as the original and the telescope is very similar with 50 mm aperture.
- The main difference is that the built-in camera is much better with an 8.3 MP resolution sensor, it also has a slightly longer focal length and wider field of view.
- The Vepera II’s retail price is only slightly more expensive than the original Vespera. Note though that it does not include a tripod, so you may need to add this but it is compatible with a regular tripod if you already have one.
- I recommend opting for the newer Vespera II over the older model, given the upgrades and the fact that it doesn’t cost much more.
- The only reason to opt for the older Vespera in 2024 is if you can find it for a reduced price as it is phased out.
Why choose the Vespera over the Vespera II?
The Vaonis Vespera is a compact, premium smart telescope from French manufacturer Vaonis that was released in 2022.
The reasons to consider it over the newer Vespera 2 are:
- It is slightly cheaper
- It includes a tripod
- It has a longer battery life
Why choose the Vespera II over the Vespera?
The Vaonis Vespera 2 is a compact, premium smart telescope from French manufacturer Vaonis that was released in 2024.
The reasons to consider it over the original Vespera are:
- It the same pros that made the original Vespera great, like being small, light and portable, and having a seamless user experience.
- It has a significantly upgraded camera that improves its imaging capacity.
- It has a wider field of view.
Telescope Specifications
The Vaonis Vespera has 50 mm (2 inch) aperture, 200 mm focal length, f/4 focal ratio, and 1.6° x 0.9° field of view.
The Vaonis Vespera II has 50 mm (2 inch) aperture, 250 mm focal length, f/5 focal ratio, and 2.5° x 1.4° field of view.
Camera Specifications
The Vaonis Vespera has a 2 MP resolution camera of 1920 x 1080 size using a Sony IMX462 sensor and a pixel size of 2.9 µm.
The Vaonis Vespera II has a 8.3 MP resolution camera of 3840 x 2160 size using a Sony IMX585 sensor and a pixel size of 2.9 µm.
Size and Weight
The Vaonis Vespera weighs 5 kg (11 lb) and has dimensions of 48 x 20 x 9 ((H x W x L in cm).
The Vaonis Vespera II weighs 5 kg (11 lb) and has dimensions of 48 x 20 x 9 ((H x W x L in cm).
Price and Value for Money
The Vaonis Vespera costs $1,499, and the Vaonis Vespera II costs $1,590.
Note though that the Vespera II does not include a tripod, so this is an additional cost of $100-$150 to add this to the order. However, it is compatible with any regular camera tripod and so if you already have one you can just use that.
Note, these may vary so check the links to compare retailers if thinking about buying.
Specifications
| Vaonis Vespera | Vaonis Vespera II | |
|---|---|---|
| Year | 2022 | 2024 |
| Aperture | 50mm (2 inch) | 50mm (2 inch) |
| Focal Length | 200mm | 250mm |
| Focal Ratio | f/4 | f/5 |
| Limiting Magnitude | 11.19 | 11.19 |
| OTA type | Refractor | Refractor |
| Eyepiece | No | No |
| Field of View | 1.6° x 0.9° | 2.5° x 1.4° |
| Resolution | 2MP | 8.3MP |
| Sensor Size | 1920 x 1080 | 3840 x 2160 |
| Sensor | Sony IMX462 | Sony IMX585 |
| Pixel Size | 2.9 µm | 2.9 µm |
| Image Formats | TIFF, FITS | TIFF, FITS |
| Mosaic Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Size (H x W x L) cm | 48 x 20 x 9 | 48 x 20 x 9 |
| Weight | 5kg (11 lb) | 5kg (11 lb) |
| Mount | Included | Included |
| Tripod | Included | Not included |
| Battery Life | 8 hrs | 4 hrs |
| Internal Storage | 10GB | 25GB |
| Dew Control | None | None |
| Retail Price* | $1,499 | $1,590 |
Vespera vs Vespera II: Verdict
The Vespera II is a good upgrade to the original model. Vaonis haven’t changed too much and that makes sense because it was already very good. The one thing that was causing it to fall short was the camera resolution and so the upgrade here makes a lot of sense.
If buying now I would recommend getting the newer Vespera II, especially given that the price is very close.
Just note though that it doesn’t come with a tripod – there is a review of the Vespera II on Amazon where the buyer is furious that no tripod was included!
To be fair this looks like a mistake on the side of Vaonis, as the images show a tripod and the description includes the phrase “Just set up the tripod using the adjustable legs, and press the button”, but doesn’t mention that it’s not in the box.
The only real reason to opt for the older Vespera is if you find it for a reduced price, and this may be possible as it is phased out. It’s still very good and not too much behind its successor.
Note, the Vespera Pro was also released at the same time as the Vespera II with even higher specifications (and tripod) but also a higher price.
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2022 Original
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2024 Upgrade
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Related content and more information
- Best Smart Telescopes Comparison
- Vaonis website: Vespera
- Vaonis website: Vespera II
- Vespera review
- Vespera II review
- Vespera Pro review
Other Vespera 2 comparisons:
- Vaonis Vespera II vs Vaonis Vespera Pro
- Vaonis Vespera II vs ZWO Seestar S50
- Vaonis Vespera II vs Dwarf II
- Vaonis Vespera II vs Vaonis Hestia
- Vaonis Vespera II vs Unistellar Odyssey
- Vaonis Vespera II vs Unistellar Odyssey Pro
- Vaonis Vespera II vs Celestron Origin
- Vaonis Vespera II vs Unistellar eVscope II
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